Chess Puzzle #4lETt — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1311 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen b3; rook a1; bishop c1; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen d8→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen b3→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen a4→d7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnr/pp3ppp/4p3/2ppN3/8/1QP5/PP1P1PPP/RNB2K2 b kq - 0 9

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.